Apparatus for mixing or agitating coating and granular materials



APPARATUS FOR MIXING OR AGITATING COATING 1 AND GRANULAR MATERIALS Filed Jan. 24. 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET l FIG. I FIG. 3

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Aug. 26, 1952 L. HALE 'APPARATUS FOR MIXING 0R AGITATING COATING AND GRANULAR MATERIALS Filed Jan. 24. 1949' Z2 v 29 4. X

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ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 26, 1952 APPARATUS FOR MIXING on AGITATING COATING AND GRANULAR MATERIALS Loren Hale, Tulsa, Okla, assignor to Stuk-O-Rite, I

Inc., Tulsa, Okla, a corporation of Delaware Application January 24, 1949, Serial No. 72,498

4 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to apparatus for mixing coating materials, such as stucco, plaster, paint, etc., or for agitating granular material in dry state, such as sand used to sand-blast surfaces for cleaning and other purposes.

The principal object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and maintain in good repair, efiicient in operation and easily cleaned considering the character of the material acted upon during its operation.

The apparatus is particularly well adapted,

although not limited to use with spray guns of the character disclosed in my copending application for patent filed January 24, 1949, Serial No. 72,497, issued as Patent No. 2,571,874.

. Another object is to provide apparatus for mixing heavy materials such as stucco, and materials using hair or fibre as a binder, such as plaster and roof coating, which is not likely to become clogged at the outlet orifice for the mixed material.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of my invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which drawmgs:

Fig. l is a perspective view looking mainly toward a side of the apparatus provided with covered hand holes, the apparatus being shown closed and sealed for the purpose of subjecting the charge of material acted upon to superatmospheric pressure.

Fig. 2 is a similar view but looking more toward a lower cleaning outlet of the apparatus and a valve controlled exit for the material acted upon.

Fig. 3 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical central section through the apparatus.

Figs. 4 and 5 are horizontal sectional views on substantially the lines 4-4 of Fig. l and 55 of Fig. 2, respectively, Fig. 5 being on a slightly enlarged scale.

Fig. 6 is a detail view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section at the upper end of an agitator shaft and associated bearing and support elements. I

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

The apparatus comprises a tank 3 for holding I the material acted upon, including an upright cylindrical body portion 9, a preferably dished bottom 10 and a top H which may be provided with an upstanding flange I2 surrounding a charging opening [3; a cap M for the charging opening; suitablemeans 15 for detachablysealing the cap l4 in fluid-tight closing relation to the charging opening; means I6 for introducing air under superatmospheric pressure into the upper portion of the tank; anuprightdrive shaft l1 coaxial with the cylindrical body portion 9 of the tank, extending through the bottom It and preferably to a point adjacentthe top ll motion transmitting means I 8 operatively connected to the shaft I! for imparting rotation to the latter in a predetermined direction, as indicated by arrows in Figs. 3, 4 and5, from any suitable prime mover, not shownin the drawings; one or more agitator blades l9 adjacent the upper portion of the tank and connected to the shaft ll, preferably by a hub 20 provided with set screws 2|, the blade or bladesextending laterally of the shaft; one or more agitator blades 22 closely adjacent the tank bottom I0 and connected to shaft ll preferably by ahub 23 provided with set screws 24, the bladeor blades 22 extending laterally of the shaft in close proximity to the inner face 25 of the cylindrical portion of the tank and in close proximity to the upwardly facing surface 26 of the bottom l0; asshown'in Fig. 3; a conduit sectionZlfdrbutlet of the material acted upon by the'bladesflfl and 22 and air under superatmosphericpressure in the tank, the conduit section leading from the, cylindrical, body portion 9 of the tank in a substantially tangential direction thereto, and counterto the direction of rotation of shaft as shown ingFig. 4, the inlet 28 of the way 29 of the conduit section 27 being in a zone slightly above the zone of rotation of the blade or blades 22, as shown in Fig. 3; and a clean-out pipe 30, providedwith a closure 3|, at the lower portion of the tank.

The cap I4 may be providedwith suitable accessories, such as a pressure gauge 32, a safety valve 33 and a manually operable relief valve 34, and a suitable valve 35, such as a gate valve may be provided in connection with the conduit section 21. I have also shown handholes 36 in the cylindrical body portion 9 for accessto the hub 23 and the set screws 24, as well as to facilitate cleaning of the tank andintern'al' parts, these handholes being normally closed bydoors 31 secured in place by spiders 3B. and bolts'39 in the usual or any approved manner. Theitank B is shown supported on any suitable surfaceby legs 40 and the upper end of shaft l1 is shown-supported by a diametrical brace 4| secured to the body portion of the tank, and supporting any suitable antifriction bearing 42 provided with a cap 43 to exclude material in the tank from con- 3 tact with the bearing surfaces. If desired a collar 44 provided with a set screw i5 may be provided on shaft l1 beneath hub 29 to assist in holding the hub 20 in the desired position along the material in the tank when. rotated and the.

blade or blades 22 are preferably inclined up wardly and rearwardly as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5

and 7, so as to exert an upward thrust. upon thematerial in the tank when the shaft l! is rotated in the direction indicated by the. arrows.

When the tank bottom ID is of dished formation, the blade or blades 22 are cut so that their lower margins 46 conform to the radial section of thebottom. ID as shown. in Fig. 3... If desired, blade. 22 may beprovided with a reinforcing web 4.1. castintegral therewith or welded in place, the web being normal to; the plane. of the. blade as shown in Fig. '7... V

Theclean-out pipeiiil ispreferably a continua tion of a. trough 48, of concavo-convex cross section. formed. integral with. the dished tank bottom [0. and. located, so as to provide a troughlike depression. 4.9 leading from adjacent the axial center of the tank to. the pipe 33 as shown more particularly-in. Figs. 3, 4 and. 5.

The means 15. may comprise a plurality of Ci -clamps each. embodying a. G-body 5i pivoted at one end as. bypin 52. to lugs. 53 extending from. the top- H and flange I2, and. a thumb or pressure screw. 5.4. at the. other; end of thc body 51; adapted tobear upon the cap Id- In. practice, the tank. 8 may be charged with the material to. be. mixed or agitated, through opening 13, valve 35. first being closed. Upon imparting rotation to the shaft H, the blades and 22 will. exert downward and upward thrusts, respectively, upon, the material, and the attendant may observe the. mixing of the material through the. opening l3... When the material. is mixed to. the extent. desired, the cap [4 is placed in sealed. relation. tov the. flange 12, closing the.

opening 13, whereupon. air under superatmospheric. pressure. is introduced. into the tank by means 16.. The valve 35 may then be opened to permit the. material to find. exit, through the conduit. section 21. Motion. is. imparted to shaft ll while the. material is finding, exit from. thetank,

and. because of the location. of the zone in which the blade or blades 22 operate, with respect. to the inlet 28 to the way 29. of. conduit section 2? a turbulence of. the material. occurs in, the. zonev cooperating with. the. blade or blades 22,, shaped and operating. in. closeproximity: to the upwardly facing. surfacev 26 of bottom. it, as described, will reduce sedimentation. in the trough-like. depression, perhaps. due to. a slight. suction created. in the depression. as the. blade sweeps. over it. In this. way material is. not packed. tight in the clean-out pipe 30 and an. attendant experiences no great. difficulty after removing closure 3!, in.

cleaning the interior of the tank when shutting down for the day or making ready for use of the apparatus in mixing a different batch of material. .I have also found that in a similar manner the way 29 of conduit section Al between the inlet 28 and valve 35, when the latter is closed and mixing is taking place within the tank, will. not become packed. with material, possibly due to a slight suction created'in the way by the blade or blades 22 sweeping in close proximity to the inlet 28 and the fact that the conduit section 27 extends in a direction counter to the direction of rotation of the shaft Ill and hence the direction of travel of the blade or blades 22.

I claim:

1. Mixing apparatus of the character described comprising a tank for holding the material acted upon, including an upright cylindrical body portion, a bottom, and an open top; a cap for said open top; means for detachably scaling said cap to the tank. top; means for. introducing airunder superatmospherie pressure into the upper portion of the tank; an upright drive shaft in said tan-k coaxial with the cylin= drical body portion thereof and rotatable in predetermined direction; a blade secured to said shaft adjacent theupper portion of the tank and extending later'ally'thereof, said blade being so. inclined to the plane. of rotation as to exert a downward thrust upon the material acted upon; a second bladesecured to'said shaft, movable therewith in closep-roximity to the bottom of the tank and extending laterally of the shaft in close proximityto the inner face of the cylin drical portion of they tarlr, said second blade being so inclined. to the plane of rotation as to exert an upward thrust upon the material acted upon and: a conduit sectionfo-r outlet'of' the material acted upon by the air under superatmospheric pressure in the tank and by said blades, said conduit section opening into. said tank at said cylindrical portion at a location. slightly above the lowermost end. of said cylindrical portion. in a substantially tangential directionv thereto and counter. to the direction of rotation of said: shaft, the inlet of the way of said conduit being in a. zone slightly above the zone of rotation of said second blade whereby a turbulence of the material. acted upon occurs in the zone of operation; of said second blade and in the. zone of said.v conduit. inlet to, prevent clog ging of the inlet.

2. In mixing apparatus. of the; character described, the combination of a tank for holding the material acted upon, said tank comprising an upright cylindrical body'pcrtion and a bottom; an upright drive shaft in said tank coaxial with the. cylindrical body portion thereof and rotatable in a. predetermined direction; a blade secured to said shaft, movable therewith in close proximity to the bottom of the tank, and extendinglaterallyof the shaft in close proximity to the inner face of the cylindrical body portion,

of. the tank; and a conduit sectionv for outlet of the material acted upon, leading from the; cy-

lindrical portion. of the. tank. in a substantially tangential direction thereto and counter to. the direction of rotation of said shaft, the inlet of the way of said conduit beingin a zone slightly scribed, the combination of a tank for holding the material acted upon, said tank comprising an upright cylindrical body portion and a dished bottom; an upright drive shaft in said tank coaxial with the cylindrical body portion thereof and rotatable in a predetermined direction; a blade secured to said shaft, movable therewith in close proximity to the upwardly facing surface of the dished bottom of the tank, and extending laterally of the shaft in close proximity to the inner face of the cylindrical body portion of the tank; and a conduit section for outlet of the material acted upon, leading from the cylindrical portion of the tank in I a substantially tangential direction thereto and counter to the direction of rotation of said shaft, the inlet of the way of said conduit being in a zone slightly above said dished bottom and the zone of rotation of said blade whereby a turbulence of the material acted upon occurs in the zone of operation of said blade and in the zone of said conduit inlet, to prevent clogging of the inlet.

4. In mixing apparatus of the character described, the combination of a tank for holding the material acted upon, said tank comprising an upright cylindrical body portion and a dished bottom; an upright drive shaft in said tank coaxial with the cylindrical body portion thereof and rotatable in a predetermined direction; a blade secured to said shaft, movable therewith in close proximity to the upwardly facing sur- 6 face of the dished bottom of the tank, and extending laterally of the shaft in close proximity to the inner face of the cylindrical body portion of the tank, said blade being so inclined to the plane of rotation as to exert an upward-thrust upon the material acted upon; and a conduit section for outlet of the material acted upon, leading from the cylindrical portion of the tank in a substantially tangential direction thereto and counter to the direction of rotation of said shaft, the inlet of the way of said conduit being in a zone slightly above the zone of rotation of said blade and closely adjacent the juncture of the cylindrical body portion and dished bottom whereby a turbulence of the material acted upon occurs in the zone of operation of said blade and in the zone of said conduit inlet, to prevent clogging of the inlet.

LOREN HALE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 886,768 DeBogory May 5, 1908 1,160,217 Valerius 'Nov. 1 6, 1915 1,259,939 Walker Mar. 19, 1918 1,600,948 Poore Sept. 21, 1926 1,670,677 Brown May 22, 1928 2,274,361 Darby Feb. 24, 1942 

